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Last Minute Goal Denies Boston City A Point On The Road

Lucas Fischer | Wed, Jun 14, 2017 11:43 pm

On an historic night for TSF at Donnelly Field, the hosts their first ever National Premier Soccer League home match, but Boston City FC slipped to a second successive defeat, conceding a decisive strike from distance in the final minute.

The Lions returned home from the longest away match of the regular season without a point, despite Filipe Dutra having equalized with 10 minutes remaining. Boston City (3-2-2) remains in second place in the NPSL Atlantic White Conference.

The significance of the occasion fueled TSF from the get-go, with the players clearly motivated by fans and the floodlights. Their resilient defending managed to keep the Lions toothless in the opening phases of the match. Both sides went end to end at pace for the first half hour, but neither could craft many clear-cut chances.

Just two minutes past the 30-minute mark, TSF midfielder Steve Zamudio did well to beat left back Leandro Carvalho, who misjudged a long ball, and serve a cross to the top of the box where it was met by Luis Mendoza, whose first-time effort was hit just wide.

Boston City had midfielder Camilo Estrada forced out of action following a strong challenge in the first half, and was replaced by defender Gabriel Paganini who slotted into the heart of defense as Carvalho was pushed into midfield and Marcelo Cunha moved out to left back.

The enforced change almost paid off just five minutes into the second half, as Carvalho ventured forward and unleashed a viscous dipping effort, but it was matched by a save from TSF goalkeeper Mateo Zabala.

It was TSF who stepped up to the occasion of the night, as they drew first blood through midfielder Steve Zamudio, who was teed up across the face of goal and hit a powerful effort that deflected off of Paganini and snuck into the near post past Boston City’s debutant goalkeeper Alexssandro.

Boston City struggled to go forward for the majority of the match, with the absences of regular forwards Jhonata Batista, Kamali Webson and Yaw Addow greatly felt. The Lions were limited to mostly shots from distance and a free kick from Homero Morais, which was clawed away well by the TSF keeper.

Boston City were handed a lifeline by Alexssandro, who produced a phenomenal spot kick save in the bottom right corner after a harsh penalty call. The save proved crucial as teenager Dutra, deputizing as a makeshift forward, popped up in the box and found the equalizer with a looping header over the keeper just minutes later.

A draw seemed both likely and deserved, but midfielder Luis Mendoza etched his name into TSF folklore when he unleashed a strike from 40 meters out that somehow dipped just under the crossbar beyond the hands of the outstretched Alexssandro, breaking the hearts of the Lions but sending the home crowd of 600 local into an explosion of jubilation.

Boston City are back in action on Sunday, when they travel to Rhode Island to take on the Reds in the NPSL in a crucial match (kickoff 5pm) with five to play and playoff spots on the line.